Armed Israeli settlers raid Nablus-area village

July 29, 2016 10:29 A.M. (Updated: July 29, 2016 12:24 P.M.)

NABLUS (Ma'an) -- Armed Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, raided the village of al-Badhan in the northeastern part of the occupied West Bank district of Nablus Friday morning, locals told Ma’an.

Witnesses said that more than 15 Israeli settler vehicles raided the village where some 3,000 Palestinians reside as Israeli forces were reportedly deployed on the main road leading to the al-Tawahin area.

Locals told Ma’an that armed Israeli settlers have raided the area every Friday in order to carry out religious rituals in the area.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma'an she would look into reports on the incident.

Locals added that since the village of al-Badhan is considered a tourist attraction for Israelis, and connects Nablus with the West Bank districts of Tubas, Jericho, and Jenin, locals have feared the area could become a target for Israeli land confiscations to expand surrounding Israeli settlements.

While the Israeli government does not make Israeli settler population statistics public, most rights groups estimate that some 500,000 to 600,000 settlers reside in Israeli settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem -- all of which are considered illegal under international law.